Japan beat USA on penalties to win the women's World Cup

They were not good enough in the group stage to beat England, but Japan have
won the women’s World Cup in a penalty shoot-out victory over the United
States in Frankfurt.

World champions: Japan hold the women's World Cup aloft after their victory on penaltiesPhoto: AP

By Luke Edwards

11:20PM BST 17 Jul 2011

The Americans hit the woodwork twice in normal time, enjoyed a virtual monopoly on goalscoring chances and deservedly took the lead through substitute Alex Morgan midway through the second half.

That looked as though it would be enough to secure their third World Cup triumph, only for a moment of panic at the back to allow Japan to take the game into extra time with a goal they had never looked like scoring through Aya Miyama.

After a brief wobble, the Americans re-established control and scored again when Morgan crossed for Abby Wambach to head them back into the lead.

Again, Japan looked beaten, but again they came back, captain Homare Sawa volleying in another equaliser from a corner with three minutes remaining in added time.

The momentum was with them and they duly became the first Asian side to win the World Cup as three Americans missed from 12 yards in the shoot-out.

The sight of Japan lifting the trophy will have opened old wounds for Hope Powell and her players as they watched at home. Although England beat the Japanese comfortably 2-0 in their final group game to qualify for the knockout stages as group winners, they could not find a way past France, losing – as tends to be the case with England at a World Cup – in the quarter-finals after a penalty shoot-out.

The US, in their first final in 12 years, had won 22 of the 25 previous meeting between the two countries, and Japan have been charging up the Fifa rankings ever since.

America looked dangerous from the start, Megan Rapino’s cross to the near post was almost stabbed in by Lauren Cheney, before Wambach fizzed a long-range effort over.

Even better chances came and went without success, Carli Lloyd failing to hit the target when the ball fell kindly to her inside the area while Rapino went a step further, scuffing a shot wide from six yards out.

Gradually Japan began to forage forward themselves, Kozue Ando unable to generate enough power to beat Hope Solo at her near post.

Wamback, though, certainly did, a thunderous shot clattering the crossbar from 20 yards, while Cheney also found the roof of the net from long range The US continued to threaten regularly.

Japan’s passing looked good, but still there was no end product, Yukari Kinga finish lacking conviction after a lovely lofted pass from Shinobu Ohno. The same player should have been in on goal moments later only to be incorrectly pulled back for offside.

America’s reply was instant, Wambach’s header being well tipped over by Kaihori. Japan’s luck could not last and they were finally made to pay when Morgan, running on to a long ball over the top of the defence, rifled a shot into the bottom corner.

That should have secured victory, but with 10 minutes left, Alex Krieger, smacked a clearance straight against Rachel Buehler, the ricochet leaving Miyama a simple finish.

Japan just never accepted defeat and America never expected to lose, but it was the underdogs who ultimately held their nerve at the end.